Mass shootings on the increase in U.S.

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Mass shootings in the United States peaked in 2010 and 2012, according to the FBI. (Federal Bureau of Investigation)

From Oakland to Los Angeles to Connecticut, the U.S. has seen a spike in mass shootings in recent years. But while the damage has been vast — with 486 people slain since 2000, and 557 wounded — most of the incidents ended within a few minutes and before police could arrive, the FBI said Wednesday.

The FBI’s study on “active shooter incidents” documented 160 cases between 2000 and 2013, and the bulk of them occurred during the latter half of the period: About 16 shootings took place annually over the past seven years, compared to 6.4 annually over the previous seven.

The report defined mass shootings as situations featuring “individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in populated areas,” such as the April 2012 rampage at Oikos University in Oakland, in which a former student killed seven people. Violence related to drug and gang disputes was excluded.

The study found that mass shootings often unfold often quickly. In cases where the duration of shootings could be determined, nearly 70 percent were over within five minutes. More than half of the sprees ended at the shooter’s discretion — when he fled or took his own life — while unarmed civilians stepped in and took down gunmen 13 percent of the time.

“Even when law enforcement was present or able to respond within minutes, civilians often had to make life and death decisions, and, therefore, should be engaged in training and discussions on decisions they may face,” the report’s authors wrote.

About 46 percent of the incidents took place in a commercial area, such as an office or shopping mall, while about 24 percent were in schools or other educational settings.

All but six of the shootings involved men, and all but two featured solo attackers. In 45 incidents where peace officers had to take on the shooter, nine officers were killed and 28 wounded.

Most mass shootings between 2000 and 2013 took place in commercial settings, such as offices or shopping centers. (Federal Bureau of Investigation)